Daily Deals: The Boarding House, Frank Was a Monster Who Wanted to Dance and Nintaii

The Boarding House by Sharon Sala is a book which is offered with great discount within today’s daily deals. You can get it just for $1.99. Compare this price with yesterday: $12.95.

Ellie Wayne does not just live. She survives. New York Times bestselling author Sharon Sala brings emotional intensity to an unforgettable story of survival, empowerment and raw courage. Ellie Wayne has grown up in frightening circumstances, damaged by a sexually abusive father and mentally fragile mother. Scarred and still threatened by a father she hates and fears, Ellie believes her future holds nothing more than danger, shame and secrets . . . until the unspeakable happens, and Ellie is forced to choose. She can claim her life or continue to hide in the shadows.One amazing man might be the miracle worker who can help Ellie see that she has the power to move on with her life, to hope for something more. If she can trust him.Readers will cheer for this amazing woman as she struggles to leave victimhood behind. Sharon Sala is a long time member of Romance Writers of America writing as Sharon Sala and Dinah McCall. She writes romantic suspense, Young Adult, and Women’s Fiction. First published in 1991, she’s a seven-time RITA finalist, winner of the Janet Dailey Award, four-time winner of the Career Achievement award from RT Magazine, five time winner of the National Reader’s Choice Award and five time winner of the Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence as well as the Bookseller Best Award. Her books are New York Times, USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly mass market best-sellers. Writing changed her life, her world, and her fate. This summer look for the third book in her Young Adult paranormal mysteries, the Lunatic Ghosts series (My Lunatic Life, The Lunatic Detective) from Bell Bridge Books.

When Frank (as in Frankenstein) goes dancing, his lively movements make him fall to pieces, whereupon his previously appreciative audience runs screaming from the theater. A humorous rhyming text immediately engages readers: “Frank was a monster who wanted to dance. I know I could boogie if they gave me a chance. So he put on his hat and his shoes made in France and opened a jar and put on his pants.” In acrylic and colored pencil, Graves’ cartoon-like illustrations, stylistically reminiscent of Lane Smith, extend the text with such details as Frank’s mouse slippers (complete with teeth), a bottle of “Le Smell,” and a box of “Le Shooz.” Graves’ palette (purple-grape, electric blue, and lime-green with cherry-red highlights) makes the details pop without overwhelming the eye. Young listeners will respond to the comedy, the catchy rhythm, and especially the yuck factor induced by Frank’s dancy disintegration.

Newcomer Graves pays generic, goofy homage to Frankenstein and to 1960s-era hot-rod art. He goes heavy on the purple, electric blue and Astroturf green in his polished, nearly 3D compositions of acrylic and colored pencil. Even the hand-lettered text, with its occasional incorporation of worms, bulging eyes, etc., contributes to the expansion of the punchline, which will likely hit primary graders’ funny bones.

In rhyme and gloriously putrid color, we follow Frank the monster as he achieves his dream: “I know I could boogie if they gave me a chance,” he muses, sitting at home in his pants, and proceeds to the theater. The audience loves him, but his head, which looks like an acid-green baseball with a zipper, comes undone, spilling out his purplely brain. The grossed-out audience departs as Frank loses an arm and an eyeball. Just the ticket for a collection that might be leaning too much toward the sweet and proper. This is a close cousin to Boogi Bones, written by Elizabeth Loredo and illustrated by Kevin Hawkes.

Some words about the Author

Keith Graves is the pen name of an alien disguised as a large parakeet. He was last spotted in Texas with his lovely three-eyed wife and twin Martians. This is his second book for earthlings.

Nintaii is a game for you Kindle Fire. Download this game for free today only.

Nintaii is an award-winning and addictive puzzle game that challenges you to outwit a brain-teasing three-D maze with rolling blocks and switches. Roll the block through the labyrinth and drop it into your target.

Nintaii demands persistent concentration. The Japanese term “nintaii” means “patience, perseverance, or endurance.” Do you have the endurance to make it through all 100 game levels?